Child Appearance Information For Our Patients in Jackson, MS

Even after your child's physician assures you that your baby is normal, you may find that he/she looks a bit odd. Your baby does not have the perfect body you have seen in baby books and TV commercials. Be patient. Most newborns have some peculiar characteristics. Fortunately, they are temporary. Your baby will begin to look normal by 1 to 2 weeks of age. This discussion of these transient newborn characteristics is arranged by parts of the body. A few minor congenital defects that are harmless but permanent are also included. Call us if you have questions about your baby's appearance that this list does not address.

Head

MoldingMolding refers to the long, narrow, cone-shaped head that result from passage through a tight birth canal. This compression of the head can temporarily hide the fontanel (soft spot). The head returns to a normal shape in a few days.

CaputCaput refers to swelling on top of the head or throughout the scalp due to fluid squeezed into the scalp during the birth process. Caput is present at birth and clears in a few days.

CephalohematomaThis is a collection of blood on the outer surface of the skull. It is due to friction between the infant's skull and the mother's pelvic bones during the birth process. The lump is usually confined to one side of the head. It first appears on the second day of life and may grow larger for up to 5 days. It does not resolve completely until the baby is 2 or 3 months of age.

Anterior Fontanel The “soft spot” is found in the top front part of the skull. It is diamond-shaped and covered by a thick fibrous layer. Touching and washing this area is quite safe. The purpose of the soft spot is to allow rapid growth of the brain. The spot will normally pulsate with each beat of the heart. It normally closes with bone when the baby is between 9 and 12 months of age.

Hair

Scalp HairMost hair at birth is dark. This hair is temporary and begins to shed by 1 month of age. Some babies lose it gradually while the permanent hair is coming in; others lose it rapidly and temporarily become bald. The permanent hair will appear by 6 months. It may be an entirely different color from the newborn hair.

Body Hair Lanugo is the fine downy hair that is sometimes present on the back and shoulders. It is more common in premature infants. It is rubbed off with normal friction by 2 to 4 weeks of age.

Eyes

Swollen EyelidsThe eyes may be puffy because of pressure on the face during delivery. This should usually clear in 3 days.

Subconjunctival HemorrhageA flame-shaped hemorrhage on the white of the eye (sclera) is not uncommon. It is harmless and due to birth trauma. The blood is reabsorbed in 2 to 3 weeks.

Iris ColorThe iris is usually blue, green, gray, brown, or variations of these colors. The permanent color of the iris is often uncertain until your baby reaches 6 months of age. White babies are usually born with blue-gray eyes. Black babies are usually born with brown-gray eyes. Children who will have dark irises often change eye color by 2 months of age; children who will have light-colored irises usually change by 5 to 6 months of age.Tear Duct, BlockedIf your baby's eye is continuously watery, he/she may have a blocked tear duct. This means that the channel that normally carries tears from the eye to the nose is blocked. It is a common condition and more than 90% of blocked tear ducts open up by the time the child is 12 months old.

Ears

Folded OverThe ears of newborns are commonly soft and floppy. Sometimes one of the edges is folded over. The outer ear will assume normal shape as the cartilage hardens over the first few weeks.

EarpitsAbout 1% of normal children have a small pit or dimple in front of the outer ear. This minor congenital defect is not important unless it becomes infected.

Nose

Nose, FlattenedThe nose can become misshapen during the birth process. It may be flattened or pushed to one side. It will look normal by 1 week of age.

Mouth

Sucking Callus (or blister)A sucking callus occurs in the center of the upper lip from constant friction at this point during bottle or breast feeding. It will disappear when your child begins cup feedings. A sucking callus on the thumb or wrist may also develop.

Tongue-TieThe normal tongue in newborns has a short tight band that connects it to the floor of the mouth. This band normally stretches with time, movement, and growth. Babies with symptoms from tongue-tie are rare.

Epithelial PearlsLittle cysts (containing clear fluid) or shallow white ulcers can occur along the gumline or on the hard palate. These are a result of blockage of normal mucous glands. They disappear after 1 or 2 months.

Teeth The presence of a tooth at birth is rare. Approximately 10% are extra teeth without a root structure. The other 90% are prematurely eruptednormal teeth. The distinction can be made by an x-ray. The extra teeth must be removed by a dentist. The normal teeth need to be removed only if they become loose (with a danger of choking) or if they cause sores on your baby's tongue.

Breast Engorgement

Swollen breasts are present during the first week of life in many female and male babies. They are caused by the passage of female hormones across the mother's placenta. Breasts are generally swollen for 4 to 6 months, but they may stay swollen longer in breast-fed and female babies. One breast may lose its swelling before the other one by a month or more. Never squeeze the breast because this can cause infection. Be sure to call your physician if a swollen breast develops any redness, streaking, or tenderness.

Umbilical Cord

The cord usually falls off by 2-3 weeks of life. You should clean the stump with alcohol at each diaper change until it does. Use a Q-tip to clean the “hard to get to” places. It is normal to have a small amount of bleeding from the site soon before it falls off. It is not normal to have a foul smell, pus from the stump, or redness on the surrounding skin. Call your physician if you notice these problems. Once the cord is off and the area appears dried, you can begin putting the baby in water for bath time; stick with sponge baths until then.

Genitals, Girls

Swollen LabiaThe labia minora can be quite swollen in newborn girls because of the passage of female hormones across the placenta. The swelling will resolve in 2 to 4 weeks.

Hymenal TagsThe hymen can also be swollen due to maternal estrogen and have smooth ½ inch projections of pink tissue. These normal tags occur in 10% of newborn girls and slowly shrink over 2 to 4 weeks.

Vaginal DischargeAs the maternal hormones decline in the baby's blood, a clear or white discharge can flow from the vagina during the latter part of the first week of like. Occasionally the discharge will become pink or blood-tinged (false menstruation). This normal discharge should not recur once it stops.

Genitals, Boys

HydroceleThe newborn scrotum can be filled with clear fluid. The fluid is squeezed into the scrotum during the birth process. This painless collection of clear fluid is called a “hydrocele.” It is common in newborn males. A hydrocele may take 6 to 12 months to clear completely. It is harmless but can be rechecked during regular visits. If the swelling frequently changes size, a hernia may also be present and you should call your physician during office hours for an appointment.

Undescended TesticleThe testicle is not in the scrotum in about 4% of full-term newborn boys. Many of these testicles gradually descend into the normal position during the following months. In 1 year old boys only 0.7% of all testicles are undescended; these need to be brought down surgically.

Tight ForeskinMost uncircumcised infant boys have a tight foreskin that doesn't allow you to see the head of the penis. This is normal and the foreskin should not be retracted.

ErectionsErections occur commonly in a newborn boy, as they do at all ages. They are usually triggered by a full bladder. Erections demonstrate that the nerves to the penis are normal.

Circumcision Care The circumcision usually heals within 5-7 days and is rarely sensitive or red after that time. In the meantime, you should apply a large amount of Vaseline or antibiotic ointment to the head of the penis with every diaper change. The head of the penis sometimes has some areas of pus formation, but these should be localized. Call if this seems to be getting worse and not better.

Bones and Joints

Tight HipsWe will test how far your child's legs can be spread apart to be certain the hips are not too tight. Upper legs bent outward until they are horizontal are called “90 degrees of spread.” (Less than 50% of normal newborn hips permit this much spreading.) As long as the upper legs can be bent outward to 60 degrees and are the same on each side, they are fine. The most common cause of tight hip is a dislocation.

Tibial TorsionThe lower legs (tibia) normally curve in because of the cross-legged posture your baby was confined to while in the womb. If you stand your baby up, you will also notice that the legs are bowed. Both of these curves are normal and will straighten out after your child has been walking for 6 to 12 months.

Feet Turned Up, In, or OutFeet may be turned in any direction inside the cramped quarters of the womb. As long as your child's feet are flexible and can be easily moved to a normal position, they are normal. The direction of the feet will become more normal between 6 and 12 months of age.Long Second ToeThe second toe is longer than the great toe as a result of heredity in some ethnic groups that originated along the Mediterranean, especially Egyptians

“Ingrown” Toenails Many newborns have soft nails that easily bend and curve. However, they are not truly ingrown because they do not curve into the flesh.

Skin

Acne of NewbornMore than 30% of newborns develop acne of the face; mainly small, red bumps. This neonatal acne begins at 3 to 4 weeks of age and lasts until 4 to 6 months of age. The cause appears to be the transfer of maternal androgens (hormones) just prior to birth. Since it is temporary, no treatment is necessary. Baby oil or ointments will just make it worse.

Drooling RashMost babies have a rash on the chin or cheeks that comes and goes. Often, this rash is caused by contact with food and acid that have been spit up from the stomach. Some of this can be helped by placing an absorbent diaper under your baby's face during naps. Rash can also be caused by baby's contact to other people's skin (face oil, make-up, lipstick, perfumes, etc.) and other people's clothes (people can wash their clothes in harsh detergents or dry cleaning). For these rashes you want to remove these irritants quickly, wipe your baby's face with a warm towel and apply Lubriderm lotion after wiping. Do this after feeding or contact with a lot of people. Other temporary rashes on the face are heat rashes in areas held against the mother's skin during nursing (especially in the summertime). Change your baby's position more frequently and use a soft cloth between your baby's face and your skin. No baby has perfect skin. The babies in advertisements wear makeup or skin tones are corrected in PhotoShop.

Erythema ToxicumMore than 50% of babies get a rash call erythema toxicum on the 2nd or 3rd day of life. The rash is composed of ½ to 1 inch size red blotches with a small white lump in the center. They look like insect bites. They can be numerous, keep occurring, and be anywhere on the body surface (except plams and soles). The cause of this rash is unknown and it is harmless. The rash usually disappears by the time an infant is 2 weeks old, but sometimes not until a child is 4 weeks old.

Forceps or Birth Canal TraumaIf your baby's delivery was difficult, a forceps may have been used to help him through the birth canal. The pressure of the forceps on the skin can leave bruises or scrapes or can even damage fat tissue anywhere on the head or face. Pressure from the birth canal can damage the skin overlying bony prominences (such as the sides of the skull) even without a forceps delivery. Fetal monitors can also cause scrapes and scabs on the scalp. You will notice the bruises and scrapes 1 or 2 days after birth. They will disappear in 1 to 2 weeks. Injury to fat tissue will not be apparent until the 5th or 6th day after birth. A thickened lump of skin with an overlying scab is what you usually see. This may take 3 or 4 weeks to heal. If it becomes tender to the touch or soft in the center or shows other signs of infection, call your physician.

MiliaMilia are tiny white bumps that occur on the faces of 40% of newborn babies. The nose and cheeks are most often involved, but milia are also seen on the forehead and chin. Although they look like pimples, they are smaller and not infected. They are blocked-off skin pores and will open up and disappear by 1 to 2 months of age. Do not apply ointments or creams to them. Any true blishers (little bumps containing clear fluid) or pimples (little bumps containing pus) that occur during the 1st month of life (especially on the scalp) must be examined and diagnosed quickly. If they are caused by the herpesvirus, they must be treated right away. If you suspect blisters or pimples, call your child's physician immediately.

Mongolian SpotsA Mongolian spot is a bluish-gray, flat birthmark that is found in more than 90% of American Indian, Oriental, Hispanic, and black babies. They occur most commonly over the back and buttocks, although they can be present on any part of the body. They vary greatly in size and shape. Most fade away by 2 or 3 years of age, although a trace may persist into adult life.

Stork Bites (Pink Birthmarks) Flat, pink birthmarks (also called capillary hemangiomas) occur over the bridge of the nose, the eyelids, or the back of the neck in more than 50% of newborns. The birthmarks on the bridge of the nose and eyelids clear completely by 1 to 2 years of age. Most birthmarks on the nape of the neck also clear, but 25% can persist into adult life.